Data centers are special uses in the LI, HI, and PP zone districts, so they require a Special Use Permit rather than being allowed by right. The process includes Planning Commission review and recommendation, Board of County Commissioners approval, public notice, a public hearing, required findings, and application fees.

A Development Plan is required for commercial or industrial development before a building permit may be issued. The plan must demonstrate compliance with the UDC, applicable land-use approvals, the Regional Comprehensive Plan, and other required site standards.

A pre-application meeting is required for commercial and industrial Development Plans. The application generally must be filed within one year after the meeting or another meeting is required.

Data centers are subject to Schedule C parking review. Because there is no fixed parking standard, the Director may require a similar-use standard, published standards, best practices, or an applicant-funded parking-demand study, potentially adding analysis and parking costs.

Nonresidential data-center development generally requires an exterior lighting plan. Lighting must generally be fully shielded, prevent light trespass and glare, meet property-line and site illumination limits, and turn off after business hours or by midnight.

In the LI and HI districts, data centers must meet dimensional limits, including minimum lot areas of 20,000 square feet in LI and one acre in HI, required setbacks, and a maximum building height of 60 feet.

In the HI district, data-center operations must comply with limits on noise, vibration, odors, noxious gases, air emissions, glare, heat, industrial waste, and outdoor storage. Vibration must not be measurable at the property boundary, and outdoor storage must be screened.

In the PP district, data centers must meet additional screening and performance standards. Screening generally requires a sight-obscuring fence at least six feet high, and operations must comply with limits on noise, vibration, odors, air emissions, noxious gases, glare, heat, and industrial waste.

Where residential-adjacency standards apply, high-noise or high-vehicle-activity features such as parking, loading, and deliveries generally may not be within 50 feet of an adjacent residential district. Buildings over 35 feet require a one-foot horizontal stepback for each foot above 35 feet, additional height limits apply near residential areas, and lighting within 100 feet of a residential zone is limited to 18 feet in height.

A data center in a Special Flood Hazard Area requires a Floodplain Development Permit and must meet flood-resistant construction requirements. Nonresidential structures generally must be elevated or floodproofed, and critical facilities must be protected two feet above the base flood elevation or located outside the floodplain.

Industrial development may not begin or change land use or development without the required permit or approval, and the County may not issue a permit or approval without finding compliance with the UDC.

A County zoning permit is required before constructing, moving, converting, extending, enlarging, or structurally altering a data-center building or other structure, except in Agricultural Zone Districts.

Using land or a building for a data center in violation of the UDC is unlawful and a misdemeanor. Each day or portion of a day that the violation continues is a separate offense.

A legally existing nonconforming data-center use generally may not be expanded. A structure specific to the use generally may not be enlarged, extended, reconstructed, moved, or structurally altered except in conjunction with changing to a conforming use.

A nonconforming data-center structure may not be enlarged or altered in a way that increases its nonconformity. An enlargement exceeding 10% of gross floor area to adapt to new technology or equipment requires a Conditional Use Permit.

A nonconforming data-center structure must be removed or brought into conformity if it is vacant for 12 consecutive months, moved, condemned, torn down, or destroyed.

Data centers are expressly allowed through a Special Use Permit in the Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, and PuebloPlex districts, providing a defined approval path. Data Center

The Light Industrial district permits data-center development on lots of at least 20,000 square feet, with a 60-foot maximum building height and specified setbacks; it has no maximum building-coverage limit subject to other applicable standards. LI Lot and Building Standards

The Heavy Industrial district allows industrial development, including data centers subject to approval, on lots as small as one acre, with a 60-foot maximum building height and specified setbacks. HI Lot and Building Standards

The PuebloPlex district permits industrial development, including data centers subject to approval, on lots of at least 20,000 square feet, with 25-foot front and 15-foot side and rear setbacks and no stated maximum industrial-building height or coverage limit. Industrial Lot Standards

Data centers are assigned to parking Schedule C, allowing the Director to set parking requirements based on a similar use, published standards, best practices, or an applicant parking-demand study rather than a fixed formula. Schedule C uses

The County may approve shared or joint parking, defer construction of up to 20 percent of required parking with a reserve plan and later study, or approve a parking reduction of up to 15 percent or another administratively supported reduction based on a parking-demand study. Minimum Parking Alternatives

A qualifying Planned Unit Development may modify or waive any UDC development standard, except standards concerning the provision or financing of necessary public infrastructure, services, and facilities. Eligibility requires the applicable PUD conditions and a qualifying public benefit. adjustments or waivers to any development standard

The County may defer completion of required public improvements through a Development Improvements Agreement, allowing development to proceed under an approved schedule if security is provided, generally equal to 120 percent of estimated improvement costs. defer the requirement for the completion of required improvements

For qualifying large-scale PUD projects, the Board may grant vested development rights for up to 20 years under an approved phasing schedule. The rights do not expire solely because an individual phase is delayed, although undeveloped phases may be reviewed for expiration if less than 50 percent of the overall project is complete. vested rights for a period up to twenty (20) years

Approved PUDs, including PUD rezonings, are final and do not lapse, so an approved rezoning generally remains effective rather than expiring after a fixed period. Approved PUDs are final and shall not lapse

Distribution, transmission, and service lines serving properties exclusively within Pueblo County are exempt from zoning requirements when they qualify for simple easements, installation in public rights-of-way, or installation under a City or County franchise agreement. shall not be subject to zoning requirements

Development lawfully approved under prior regulations may proceed under its approval terms while the approval remains valid, and the UDC does not annul permits issued before its effective date. Any development validly approved under any prior regulations may be carried out

A lawfully established data-center use that later becomes nonconforming may continue as long as it remains lawful and is not discontinued for 12 consecutive months. Nonconforming uses may be continued

A nonconforming data center may continue operating in its existing lawful structure, and ordinary repairs and maintenance are allowed. Adaptations for new technologies or equipment may be allowed; an enlargement exceeding 10 percent of gross floor area for that purpose requires a Conditional Use Permit. A nonconforming structure may continue to be used

A nonconforming data-center use may extend into additional portions of the existing building that were designed for that use when it became nonconforming, but may not extend onto land outside the building. Any nonconforming use may be extended throughout

If a nonconforming data-center structure is damaged or partially destroyed by fire, explosion, or a natural occurrence, it may be restored to its prior condition within its original dimensional limits if restoration begins within six months and is completed within one year. A totally destroyed structure may be rebuilt only under current zoning. A nonconforming structure damaged or partially destroyed

A legally created parcel that no longer conforms to current requirements may still be developed if it is separately owned or contiguous with commonly owned lots and the development meets applicable dimensional standards, including through an Administrative Adjustment where available.